HMS Warspite and Captain Wake's measured response

Captain Wake receives reports of meetings, speeches, and occasional singing of 'The Red Flag,' which other protesters usually suppress before it can define the action. As captain of the watch ship, he takes patrols ashore and closes the canteen early. The crews leave peacefully because sailors generally trust him rather than treating his intervention as an attack. Most protesters direct their grievance at government policy instead of their immediate officers. Wake's response shows how credible local leadership could contain unrest without pretending that the pay grievance was illegitimate.